Alan Earl Groen

Johnston - July 9,1949-June 8, 2018

Alan E. Groen, 68, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Scottsdale, AZ, four years after suffering a series of strokes as a result of a rare auto-immune disease.

Alan, son of Leo and Faye Groen of Hartley, IA, grew up as the fourth of five children. He graduated from Hartley High School in the Class of 1967 and later met the love of his life, Garland Lorch. Alan and Garland were married in May of 1974 and started a family which was his pride and joy. His smile grew even wider with the birth of his grandchildren. 

Alan was an entrepreneur as he owned and operated two successful companies in Des Moines, Type-O-Graphics Two, Inc. and Computer Color Graphics. In his semi-retirement, he enjoyed being a Bar Manager at the Des Moines Performing Arts venues and working for the Johnston School District as a bus driver.

Alan was full of energy, compassion and enjoyed the value of hard work, his sons' sporting events which he never missed (especially baseball!) and his Harley Davidson, which he and Garland took on many road trips with his siblings. Garland and Alan also enjoyed cruising around Des Moines in their '66 Corvette convertible. He was an avid Cyclones fan and enjoyed an annual trip with his sons to catch a College World Series game. He was known for his witty one-off comments that always got a laugh and particularly loved to tease his daughters-in-law! 

He is survived by his wife Garland, three sons, Eric (Andrea) of Scottsdale, AZ, Alex (Sarah) of Houston, TX, and Blake (Jo) of West Des Moines, IA. Alan was affectionately referred to as "Pa" by his grandchildren Beckett, Avery, Harrison, Collins and Baby Girl expected in October 2018. Also surviving are two brothers, Ken (Cindi) and Kevin (Marcia), and two sisters, Donna (Brad) Thorn and Sandra Nelson, all of Northwest, Iowa, as well as many and much loved nieces and nephews and a host of good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Alan's remains will be memorialized in an intimate, private columbarium service.

A celebration of life party will be held in the Embassy Club West Ponderosa Room at 520 Market Street, West Des Moines, IA on Saturday, June 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. Please come when you can and leave when you must. The family will be present to enjoy the gift of your time.

In lieu of flowers please enjoy a special day with your family doing your favorite activity. 

In Alan's honor, memorials may be directed to the family for distribution to the Creighton University Groen Family Scholarship Fund for under-privileged accounting and finance students looking to participate in the New York Travel Course, a highly memorable and enjoyable course for all three sons.

Alan's family would like to express their gratitude to friends and neighbors in both Iowa and Arizona who were so helpful to him and Garland during his health challenges.

And remember… Go Cyclones!